National Land Cover Database (NLCD)

Data Source: https://www.mrlc.gov/data?f%5B0%5D=category%3ATree%20Canopy&f%5B1%5D=region%3Aconus

Data description: https://www.mrlc.gov/sites/default/files/TCC_Project_Overview_Brochure-MRLC_2020-06-05.pdf

About the source [Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) consortium]: https://www.mrlc.gov/about

Tree canopy cover (TCC) is the layer of tree leaves, needles, branches, and stems that provide tree coverage of the ground, viewed from an aerial perspective. The TCC maps represent canopy cover values, ranging from 0 to 100, for a 30 meter cell.

Automated classification techniques were used to produce tree canopy cover estimates. Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots were photo-interpreted for tree canopy cover using high resolution imagery and used to generate over 65,000 reference sites. Approximately 9,000 individual Landsat scenes, their spectral derivatives, harmonic regression coe cients, topographic data, and the reference sites were used as input data in the modeling procedure.

The data was retrieved using the FedData library, get_nlcd function. The function returns a RasterLayer of the three categories of NLCD data (tree canopy, impervious surfaces, landcover) cropped to a given template study area. In this project, we pulled the tree canopy data on tract, block and blockgroup levels for the designated locations around Virginia.

library(tidyverse)
library(leaflet)
library(sp)
library(viridis)
library(raster)
library(knitr)
library(dplyr)
library(kableExtra)

Charlottesville Region

cville_tracts <- readRDS("Cville_Tree/cville_tracts.RDS")
cville_blkgps <- readRDS("Cville_Tree/cville_blkgps.RDS")
cville_blocks <- readRDS("Cville_Tree/cville_blocks.RDS")
cvillefips <- c("540", "3", "65", "79", "109", "125")

Counties

ggplot(cvl_tracts, aes(x=COUNTYFP, y=tree_can)) +
        geom_point(shape=1) +
  geom_density_2d_filled(size = 0.25, alpha = 0.5)+
  scale_x_discrete(cvl_tracts$COUNTYFP, name ="COUNTYFP", labels= c("1" = "3", "2" ="65", "3" ="79", "4"="109", "5"="125", "6"="540"), breaks=c(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6))

Tracts

kable(head(cvl_tracts))%>%
  kable_styling(font_size = 12)
STATEFP COUNTYFP TRACTCE GEOID NAMELSAD tree_can
19 51 6 201 5.154e+10 Census Tract 2.01 32.76820
41 51 6 202 5.154e+10 Census Tract 2.02 11.58013
42 51 6 302 5.154e+10 Census Tract 3.02 25.91021
43 51 6 401 5.154e+10 Census Tract 4.01 34.10494
45 51 6 402 5.154e+10 Census Tract 4.02 22.95314
44 51 6 501 5.154e+10 Census Tract 5.01 34.68436 
ggplot(cvl_tracts) + 
  geom_col(aes(x=as.factor(GEOID), y=tree_can)) +
  coord_flip() +
  labs(x="GEOID",
       y="% Tree Canopy",
       title="% Tree Canopy by GEOID")+
  theme(axis.text.y = element_text(face="plain", color="black", 
                           size=5))

cville_tracts$tree_can <- cvl_tracts$tree_can


pal <- colorNumeric("plasma", reverse = TRUE, domain = cvl_tracts$tree_can)
cvl_tracts$tree_can <- as.numeric(cvl_tracts$tree_can)
cville_tracts$COUNTYFP <- as.numeric(cville_tracts$COUNTYFP)
m <- leaflet()%>%
  addTiles()%>%
  addPolygons(data = cville_tracts,
              fillColor = ~pal(tree_can),
              weight = 1,
              opacity = 1,
              color = "white",
              fillOpacity = 0.6,
              highlight = highlightOptions(weight = 2, fillOpacity = 0.8, bringToFront = T),
              popup = paste0("FIPS Code: ", cvl_tracts$GEOID, "<br>",
                             "Tree Canopy: ", cvl_tracts$tree_can,"<br>",
                             "Tract: ", cvl_tracts$NAMELSAD)) %>%
  addLegend("bottomright", pal = pal, values = cvl_tracts$tree_can,
            title = "Tree Canopy", opacity = 0.7)
m

Blockgroups

cvl_blkgps <- read.csv("Cville_Tree/nlcd_tree_cville_blkgps.csv")%>%
  as.data.frame()

cvl_blkgps <- cvl_blkgps[order(cvl_blkgps$TRACTCE), ]

kable(head(cvl_blkgps))%>%
  kable_styling(font_size = 12)
STATEFP COUNTYFP TRACTCE BLKGRPCE GEOID NAMELSAD tree_can
54 51 540 201 3 5.154e+11 Block Group 3 39.102459
55 51 540 201 1 5.154e+11 Block Group 1 43.246032
89 51 540 201 2 5.154e+11 Block Group 2 15.508475
6 51 540 202 2 5.154e+11 Block Group 2 9.651163
92 51 540 202 3 5.154e+11 Block Group 3 18.833333
108 51 540 202 1 5.154e+11 Block Group 1 8.282908 
cville_blkgps$tree_can <- cvl_blkgps$tree_can


pal <- colorNumeric("plasma", reverse = TRUE, domain = cvl_blkgps$tree_can)
cvl_blkgps$tree_can <- as.numeric(cvl_blkgps$tree_can)
cville_blkgps$COUNTYFP <- as.numeric(cville_blkgps$COUNTYFP)
m <- leaflet()%>%
  addTiles()%>%
  addPolygons(data = cville_blkgps,
              fillColor = ~pal(tree_can),
              weight = 1,
              opacity = 1,
              color = "white",
              fillOpacity = 0.6,
              highlight = highlightOptions(weight = 2, fillOpacity = 0.8, bringToFront = T),
              popup = paste0("FIPS Code: ", cvl_blkgps$GEOID, "<br>",
                             "Tree Canopy: ", cvl_blkgps$tree_can,"<br>",
                             "Blockgroup: ", cvl_blkgps$NAMELSAD)) %>%
  addLegend("bottomright", pal = pal, values = cvl_blkgps$tree_can,
            title = "Tree Canopy", opacity = 0.7)
m

Blocks

cvl_blocks <- read.csv("Cville_Tree/nlcd_tree_cville_blocks.csv")%>%
  as.data.frame()

kable(head(cvl_blocks))%>%
  kable_styling(font_size = 12)
STATEFP10 COUNTYFP10 TRACTCE10 BLOCKCE10 GEOID10 NAME10 tree_can
51 3 10401 3025 5.100301e+14 Block 3025 74.666667
51 3 10401 3004 5.100301e+14 Block 3004 0.000000
51 3 10401 3005 5.100301e+14 Block 3005 25.907297
51 3 10401 3021 5.100301e+14 Block 3021 46.275294
51 3 10401 3016 5.100301e+14 Block 3016 44.680297
51 3 10401 3019 5.100301e+14 Block 3019 7.082353 
cville_blocks$tree_can <- cvl_blocks$tree_can

pal <- colorNumeric("plasma", reverse = TRUE, domain = cvl_blocks$tree_can)
cvl_blocks$tree_can <- as.numeric(cvl_blocks$tree_can)
cville_blocks$COUNTYFP <- as.numeric(cville_blocks$COUNTYFP)
m <- leaflet()%>%
  addTiles()%>%
  addPolygons(data = cville_blocks,
              fillColor = ~pal(tree_can),
              weight = 1,
              opacity = 1,
              color = "white",
              fillOpacity = 0.6,
              highlight = highlightOptions(weight = 2, fillOpacity = 0.8, bringToFront = T),
              popup = paste0("FIPS Code: ", cvl_blocks$GEOID, "<br>",
                             "Tree Canopy: ", cvl_blocks$tree_can,"<br>",
                             "Block: ", cvl_blocks$NAME10)) %>%
  addLegend("bottomright", pal = pal, values = cvl_blocks$tree_can,
            title = "Tree Canopy", opacity = 0.7)
m

Eastern Shore Region

east_tracts <- readRDS("Easternshore_Tree/eastshore_tracts.RDS")
east_blkgps <- readRDS("Easternshore_Tree/eastshore_blkgps.RDS")
east_blocks <- readRDS("Easternshore_Tree/eastshore_blocks.RDS")

Counties

ggplot(eastern_tracts, aes(x=COUNTYFP, y=tree_can)) +
  geom_point(shape=1) +
  geom_density_2d_filled(size = 0.25, alpha = 0.5) +
  scale_x_continuous(eastern_tracts$COUNTYFP, name ="COUNTYFP", labels= c("1" = "1", "2" ="131"), breaks=c(1, 2))

Tracts

ggplot(eastern_tracts) + 
  geom_col(aes(x=as.factor(GEOID), y=tree_can)) +
  coord_flip() +
  labs(x="GEOID",
       y="% Tree Canopy",
       title="% Tree Canopy by GEOID")+
  theme(axis.text.y = element_text(face="plain", color="black", 
                           size=6))

kable(head(eastern_tracts))%>%
  kable_styling(font_size = 12)
STATEFP COUNTYFP TRACTCE GEOID NAME NAMELSAD tree_can
51 1 1 51001090200 902 Census Tract 902 34.599
51 1 2 51001980200 9802 Census Tract 9802 3.478
51 1 3 51001980100 9801 Census Tract 9801 10.723
51 1 4 51001090400 904 Census Tract 904 19.421
51 2 5 51131990100 9901 Census Tract 9901 0.000
51 2 6 51131930300 9303 Census Tract 9303 5.316 
east_tracts$tree_can <- eastern_tracts$tree_can

pal <- colorNumeric("plasma", reverse = TRUE, domain = eastern_tracts$tree_can)
east_tracts$COUNTYFP <- as.numeric(east_tracts$COUNTYFP)
m <- leaflet()%>%
  addTiles()%>%
  addPolygons(data = east_tracts,
              fillColor = ~pal(tree_can),
              weight = 1,
              opacity = 1,
              color = "white",
              fillOpacity = 0.6,
              highlight = highlightOptions(weight = 2, fillOpacity = 0.8, bringToFront = T),
              popup = paste0("FIPS Code: ", eastern_tracts$GEOID, "<br>",
                             "Tree Canopy: ", eastern_tracts$tree_can, "<br>",
                             "Tract: ", eastern_tracts$NAMELSAD)) %>%
  addLegend("bottomright", pal = pal, values = eastern_tracts$tree_can,
            title = "Tree Canopy", opacity = 0.7)
m

Blockgroups

eastern_blkgps <- read.csv("Easternshore_Tree/nlcd_tree_eastshore_blkgps.csv")%>%
  as.data.frame()

kable(head(eastern_blkgps))%>%
  kable_styling(font_size = 12)
STATEFP COUNTYFP TRACTCE BLKGRPCE GEOID NAMELSAD tree_can
51 1 990100 0 510019901000 Block Group 0 0.0292864
51 1 90800 2 510010908002 Block Group 2 9.9791408
51 1 90400 4 510010904004 Block Group 4 15.0362333
51 1 90400 3 510010904003 Block Group 3 18.6409378
51 1 90800 3 510010908003 Block Group 3 24.5608307
51 1 90300 1 510010903001 Block Group 1 13.8446008 
# cvl_tracts <- cvl_tracts[complete.cases(cvl_tracts),]

east_blkgps$tree_can <- eastern_blkgps$tree_can

pal <- colorNumeric("plasma", reverse = TRUE, domain = eastern_blkgps$tree_can)
eastern_blkgps$tree_can <- as.numeric(eastern_blkgps$tree_can)
east_blkgps$COUNTYFP <- as.numeric(east_blkgps$COUNTYFP)
m <- leaflet()%>%
  addTiles()%>%
  addPolygons(data = east_blkgps,
              fillColor = ~pal(tree_can),
              weight = 1,
              opacity = 1,
              color = "white",
              fillOpacity = 0.6,
              highlight = highlightOptions(weight = 2, fillOpacity = 0.8, bringToFront = T),
              popup = paste0("FIPS Code: ", eastern_blkgps$GEOID, "<br>",
                             "Tree Canopy: ", eastern_blkgps$tree_can, "<br>",
                             "Blockgroup: ", eastern_blkgps$NAMELSAD)) %>%
  addLegend("bottomright", pal = pal, values = eastern_blkgps$tree_can,
            title = "Tree Canopy", opacity = 0.7)
m

Blocks

eastern_blocks <- read.csv("Easternshore_Tree/nlcd_tree_eastshore_blocks.csv")%>%
  as.data.frame()

kable(head(eastern_blocks))%>%
  kable_styling(font_size = 12)
STATEFP10 COUNTYFP10 TRACTCE10 BLOCKCE10 GEOID10 NAME10 tree_can
51 1 90600 4011 5.100109e+14 Block 4011 54.98551
51 1 90600 4023 5.100109e+14 Block 4023 45.93617
51 1 90700 1011 5.100109e+14 Block 1011 35.00000
51 1 90800 2078 5.100109e+14 Block 2078 0.00000
51 1 90800 2079 5.100109e+14 Block 2079 0.00000
51 1 90600 4048 5.100109e+14 Block 4048 0.00000 
east_blocks$tree_can <- eastern_blocks$tree_can

pal <- colorNumeric("plasma", reverse = TRUE, domain = eastern_blocks$tree_can)
eastern_blocks$tree_can <- as.numeric(eastern_blocks$tree_can)
east_blocks$COUNTYFP <- as.numeric(east_blocks$COUNTYFP)
m <- leaflet()%>%
  addTiles()%>%
  addPolygons(data = east_blocks,
              fillColor = ~pal(tree_can),
              weight = 1,
              opacity = 1,
              color = "white",
              fillOpacity = 0.6,
              highlight = highlightOptions(weight = 2, fillOpacity = 0.8, bringToFront = T),
              popup = paste0("FIPS Code: ", eastern_blocks$GEOID, "<br>",
                             "Tree Canopy: ", eastern_blocks$tree_can, "<br>",
                             "Blocks: ", eastern_blocks$Tree_can)) %>%
  addLegend("bottomright", pal = pal, values = eastern_blocks$tree_can,
            title = "Tree Canopy", opacity = 0.7)
m